Summary : We saw a bright blue-green object streak across the southern sky at a great rate of speed,travelling from east to west. It seemed tochange course slightly before disappearing,moving northwest. This seems to have set itapart from meteorite or firework activity.

See above for description. (blue-green objectmoving east to west in southern sky overthe Alton, IL area at 9:45pmon July 4, 1997.)I'd like to add that it was brighter than anyof the fireworks that neighbors were launchingat the time. It lit up the yard for a moment --not brightly ... but, more so than moonlightor fireworks. Slightly less than lightning.The fact that it moved so smoothly and quicklymade me think it was a shooting star ... a closeone because of the "thickness" of the trail.But, it shifted course a little, heading morenorthwest than west, which I found odd. Thenit disappeared.think is odd.